Social and Behavioral Sciences Commons^™

Intention Matters: Quality Women's Networks Focus On Advancement, Sarah Rand

Business Administration Faculty Scholarship

This study concentrates on the role and value of one strategy frequently employed by large organizations: the formation of company-sponsored women’s networks. The purpose of this study was to understand what factors impact the effectiveness of women’s networks so as to facilitate members’ advancement. This study employed a survey of 2,021 women’s network participants across three large organizations operating in diverse industries. Though few members reported career advancement as a result of their involvement, those who did identified common experiences including opportunities to expand professional networks, build connections with senior leaders, develop sponsorship relationships, and participate in projects helpful for …